Last Night
Washington D.C. — August 2023
Their last night in Washington felt dangerous from the beginning.
Not dramatic dangerous.
Soft dangerous.
The kind where both people know they're about to miss each other before they've even said goodbye.
Arsenal had won earlier that evening and most of the team went out afterward, but Leah skipped it entirely.
For once football didn't win.
Elle did.
"You know Beth's going to accuse me of ruining team morale," Elle murmured from the bathroom doorway while taking her earrings off.
Leah looked up from the hotel bed immediately.
"You absolutely have."
Elle laughed softly.
God.
Leah loved that sound.
The hotel suite glowed gold beneath dim lamps while Washington lights flickered outside the windows. Amanda and Linda had flown home that morning, leaving just the two of them alone for the first time all week.
And suddenly the room felt quieter because of it.
More intimate.
Leah sat back against the headboard still in black training shorts and a loose Arsenal t-shirt watching Elle move around the room.
Completely distracted.
Hopelessly so.
"You're staring again," Elle said without turning around.
"You're very beautiful."
"That line's losing effectiveness."
"No," Leah murmured softly, "I genuinely don't think it is."
Elle finally looked over then.
And the expression on Leah's face immediately softened something inside her chest.
Because after Australia, after the fight, after New York and all the honesty that followed—
Leah looked different now.
Less guarded.
Still scared sometimes.
But trying.
Actually trying.
Elle walked slowly toward the bed before climbing beside her.
The mattress dipped slightly beneath her weight.
Leah's hand found her waist instantly.
Instinct now.
"You know what I realised this week?" Leah asked quietly.
"What?"
Elle leaned lightly into her chest while Leah absentmindedly traced circles against her hip.
"That I really like ordinary things with you."
The honesty in her voice made Elle smile softly.
"Such as?"
"Tea."
"Thrilling."
Leah laughed quietly.
"Walking around bookstores while you pretend not to judge my reading choices."
"You read autobiographies written by footballers."
"They're inspiring."
"They're ghostwritten."
Leah grinned before pulling her slightly closer.
"And waking up beside you."
That one landed differently.
Softer.
More vulnerable.
Because Leah still sounded surprised by happiness sometimes.
Like she hadn't fully accepted she was allowed to keep it yet.
Elle tilted her head slightly to look up at her.
"You know what I like?"
"What?"
"The way you don't run anymore."
Silence.
Leah's fingers paused briefly against her waist.
Because she knew exactly what Elle meant.
No disappearing.
No shutting down emotionally.
No pretending she was fine until everything exploded.
Not perfect.
But better.
Trying.
Leah looked down at her for a long moment.
Then quieter—
"I think I got scared because loving you feels very permanent."
God.
Elle's chest physically tightened.
Because Leah never used words casually.
Every sentence felt chosen carefully before she let it leave her mouth.
"And that's bad?" Elle whispered softly.
Leah shook her head immediately.
"No."
Her voice dropped lower now.
"I think it's the best thing that's ever happened to me."
The room went still.
Washington lights blurred softly beyond the windows while the city hummed far below them.
Then Elle kissed her.
Slowly at first.
Gentle.
But Leah kissed back like she'd been holding herself together all week waiting for this exact moment.
Hands sliding against skin.
Familiar warmth.
The kind of closeness that had stopped feeling frightening and started feeling necessary.
Leah's forehead rested briefly against Elle's when they pulled apart, both breathing unevenly now.
"You know what's annoying?" Leah murmured softly.
"What?"
"I had a whole speech in my head tonight."
Elle smiled faintly. "Oh God."
"I know."
"What was the speech?"
Leah laughed quietly under her breath, suddenly shy.
Which honestly still destroyed Elle every single time.
"It was something about choosing each other properly."
The words settled warmly between them.
Not flashy.
Not dramatic.
Just true.
Leah brushed her thumb softly along Elle's jaw.
"I think long distance only works if both people decide, over and over, that it's worth it."
Emotion flickered across Elle's face instantly.
Because after Australia, after the silence and hurt and fear—
hearing Leah say this so clearly mattered.
"And are we?" Elle whispered.
Leah looked at her like the answer was obvious.
"Yeah," she said softly. "I think we are."
Then she kissed her again.
And this time there was no fear in it.
No hesitation.
Just two people finally understanding that love wasn't supposed to feel easy all the time—
but it was supposed to feel worth fighting for.